+4 Damage Reduction

[just_zis_guy]

Hello! Playing randarts I came across the Long Sword 'Andir' (2d5) (+9,+16) <+4>. The +4 is Damage Reduction. I never saw this feature before. Am I right that this reduces the damage done to you from an enemy attack? Is +4 a good reduction?

PS
I'm a new forum member - howdy! I've been playing Angband and stalking the forums for many years. I thought I should come out of my hole and ask a question or something.

[Nick]

Hello! Playing randarts I came across the Long Sword 'Andir' (2d5) (+9,+16) <+4>. The +4 is Damage Reduction. I never saw this feature before. Am I right that this reduces the damage done to you from an enemy attack? Is +4 a good reduction?

Yes, it's a flat 4HP reduction from every individual monster attack. So it's really good if you're surrounded by monsters that don't do a lot of damage (you'll be immune to giant fleas, for example), but almost useless against monsters that are doing 100s of HP in spell damage.

PS
I'm a new forum member - howdy! I've been playing Angband and stalking the forums for many years. I thought I should come out of my hole and ask a question or something.

Welcome

[sffp]

Hello! Playing randarts I came across the Long Sword 'Andir' (2d5) (+9,+16) <+4>. The +4 is Damage Reduction. I never saw this feature before. Am I right that this reduces the damage done to you from an enemy attack? Is +4 a good reduction?

PS
I'm a new forum member - howdy! I've been playing Angband and stalking the forums for many years. I thought I should come out of my hole and ask a question or something.

Keep in mind it's 4 points of damage per attack

So an 8-headed which makes 8 2d6 attacks that average 7 points of damage apiece will have its damage reduced by 4 pts (averaging 3 points of damage.)


The reality is melee will be ridiculously easy against lower creatures, but the effect against say Greater Titans wouldn't be too noticable.

[kineahora]

Yes, it's a flat 4HP reduction from every individual monster attack. So it's really good if you're surrounded by monsters that don't do a lot of damage (you'll be immune to giant fleas, for example), but almost useless against monsters that are doing 100s of HP in spell damage.



Welcome

Thanks Nick I was unfamiliar with this flag as well. Basically I play standarts and I wondered if it would make Belegennon a better armor than armors with far bigger AC like Adamantite plate--and I found the answer to be "No way"--basically its an early-game flag of very limited efficacy.

Maybe buff artifacts like belegennon to +20 instead of +5?

[Ugramoth]

Pair of Leather Sandals 'Ossaerint' [1, +21] <+5>;
Dropped by Golfimbul, the Hill Orc Chief at 600 feet

+5 damage reduction
Provides protection from blindness

This is really good this early in the game. With regenerating HT, many things do total 0 damage over few turns.

I know bug farming is bad but could not resist room full of fruit flies with these on...

[Pete Mack]

Those sandals even provide Hummerhorn protection--they can only do 2d2 damage.
Edit: i noticed Giant fireflies do less damage despite being deeper. And they dont have intrinsic light, contra their description.